Organizers in the South Okanagan for the B.C. Thanksgiving Food Drive are celebrating after 11,500 pounds of food was collected to help stock the shelves of local food banks.
Volunteers distributed over 12,000 flyers and food bags to the homes of Penticton last week, with Saturday set as collection day with volunteers heading back out to pick up bags from doorsteps of the donors.
There were 39 routes being handled by dozens and dozens of volunteers , who were able to collect approximately 11,500 pounds of food.
“It is kind of like Christmas and Easter combined as we drive around finding the kind gifts of food left on doorsteps for the poor and needy,” said Traudi Kane, one of the co-chairpersons for the food drive.
Judi Johnson, another volunteer was able to collect almost 150 pounds of food from her apartment building by leaving bags on the doorhandles of the apartments and organizing a collection spot in the foyer with the support of the building manager.
“I love being involved with people helping people with generosity and kindness,” said volunteer Jonathan Sevy.
The effort wasn’t without other community support. IGA in Penticton donated the bags, Aurora Printing donated the printing of the flyers and OP Office Products donated the stationary for the flyers. There was also many retirement homes staff and residents who taped the flyers to the bags and the volunteers who distributed and collected the bags
Volunteers to hand out bags and pick up the donated food included staff from local businesses, church congregation, recipients from the food bank, retirees, staff from the Salvation Army Food Bank, citizens who volunteered after reading the previous articles in the local media or hearing about in on the radio and students from local schools.
“A huge thank you to everyone who donated food, time and effort to serve the poor and the needy. You are a joy to work with and be around,” said Dan Kane, co-chairperson for the B.C. Thanksgiving Food Drive. “Thanks to the Salvation Army Food Bank for the service rendered, you are a part of the reason that Penticton is such a wonderful city to live in.”
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